Mergermarket Radio

Activist investors are adapting their strategy to the top of the business cycle. William Mace and William Cain joined us this week to speak about the intersection of private equity and shareholder activism.

Mergermarket Nordics reporter Karoliina Liimatainen talks about Danish pharma firm Lundbeck's plans for M&A to replenish its pipeline.

Just when Apollo seemed poised to take over plastics company RPC, Berry Global emerged as a possible rival bidder. Deane McRobie interviews Mergermarket industrials reporter Joao Grando and Dealreporter industrials reporter Swetha Gopinath on last week's spoiler.

M&A had a strong start to 2018 but slowed in the second half of the year amid growing political uncertainty and flagging consumer confidence. Deane McRobie interviews Mergermarket research editor Jonathan Klonowski and private-equity reporter Claude Risner for insight on the year that was, and asks how the slowdown might reverse course in 2019.

The auction for French listed insurance broker and carrier April Group is one of the most high profile processes in France and private equity houses such as CVC and BC Partners are in a bidding race to acquire the asset.

Natalia Lapotko interviews Alexandre Rajbhandari to garner insight into April Group’s attention grabbing valuation, deal dynamics and why this could be a prized asset with expected timings and bidder interest.

The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is reviewing J Sainsbury's proposed merger with Asda. Brandon Zero talks to Deane McRobie about the CMA's focus on local markets in Phase II.

Japanese pharma company Takeda's USD 62bn acquisition of London-listed Shire is expected to close soon. To gain approval from the European Commission (EC), Takeda has proposed to sell Shire's drug for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), to avoid an overlap between the two companies.

Mintoi Chessa-Florea talks to Yining Su about the proposed divestiture package and its likelihood of finding a buyer.

Security services provider G4S suffered a substantial share price drop following its third quarter results on 7 November. With leverage higher than its peers, and a five-year annualised return of little over zero, could a solution lie in M&A?

Will Cain tells Samantha Tomaszczyk the plunge could justify another look at its Cash Solutions business, which could in turn trigger interest for the whole company.

With the mid-November Altice fibre operations bid deadline fast approaching, Dealcast examines not only Altice's strategy but the infrastructure market in France and the implications of Brexit on M&A in France. Why has the process taken so much time? How has the debt situation influenced Altice's strategy? Arezki Yaiche and Natalia Lapotko discuss.

With the 5 November bid deadline approaching, Dealcast examines the potential buyout of plastics packaging firm RPC Group. Will Bain and Apollo have to compete against other suitors, and will they form a consortium? Is RPC’s cash conversion impacting deal chances? Swetha Gopinath and Samantha Tomaszczyk discuss.